Phillips will fill the CEHR post for an initial three years. He will stand down from his CRE role as soon as a replacement is found. The CEHR’s chief executive will be appointed by the end of the year.

Communities secretary Ruth Kelly said Phillips had a “proven track record and is prepared to tackle the difficult and controversial issues head on”.

Phillips said the CEHR’s ambition would be to “create a society that is at ease with all aspects of its diversity”.